paralyzed diaphragm

How long have you had this problem and what were some of your symptoms? Where did you get operated from and what did they do?

You said you have faint sounds coming from your lung as you are getting better. I have a kind of gurgling sound or feeling coming from my damaged side of lungs. Is that a good thing or bad? Thanks for all your help.

I HAD THIS PROBLEM FOR 35 YEARS SYMPTOMS ---SHORTNESS OF BREATH---UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA HOSPITAL SURGERY FOR PLICATION OF PARALYZED DIAPHRAGM

Recently I have had a constant burbling in my stomach and, most recently, I was diagnosed with a paralyzed left vocal cord. The doctor sent me for a chest x-ray and the results showed and elevated left diaphragm. Does that mean it's paralyzed?

The burbling stomach; maybe when the diaphragm shifted?, started in August 2012 but, the paralyzed vocal cord occurred 2 weeks ago.

I can sleep fine and can exert myself without any problems, although I do get tired quicker than usual.

Do you think I have the same problem as what is being discussed here or do you think it's something completely different?

my husband also has this condition and hes been with this for close to 6yrs now and was told his phrenic nerve was paralized and has the same problems youve had he cant lie down and breath and same thing while tying his shoes. he sleeps in a hospital bed in a sitting postion. hes been on a bi-pap machine all this time. if you could please, please give me a doctors name and number for me to say thank you wouldnt be enough. so could you please get back with me with that info. im so glad GOD Blessed you and i hope you would please share that blessing with my husband.

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Oneida100, I can't answer your question properly because only an ultrasound and/or a doctor listening with a stethoscope would be able to tell you exactly what is going on inside, but it could be. it could be that if the diaphragm is paralysed, it could be allowing the stomach to move in ways it isn't used to and isn't designed to.

Do you have pain accompanying the burbling? By burbling, do you mean a burbling sound, or a burbling feeling? If a feeling, then it could be your diaphragm fluttering. If a sound, it could be the movement of your stomach contents in a strange way...which could be a digestive issue.

I have heard of someone who had a different nerve paralysed, and it caused significant digestive issues which unattended caused a lot of burning of the digestive tract. With proper medication and some massage regularly throughout the day, her stomach was able to be manually emptied and that eased some of the burning issues.

I put my hands below both ribs cages and feel for differences in the way the abdomen moves under my hands while breathing slowly and deeply and while relaxing all the other muscles in the area. What happens when you try this? Can you feel a fluttering on the left side? I'm not sure what you could expect to feel, what with the stomach and the heart in the same area.

It's really hard for me to pick up those differences but I have occasionally picked up a paradoxical movement or a flutter on the right hand side. My diaphragm is only 'partially paralysed', and most of the time it only moves about half as much as it should.

Hey there.  Really happy to find this.  I will give you guys a history of what is going on with me.  In Late September 2011 I was given Humira for my Ankolosing Spondylitis.  After a months treatment, I woke up one morning with severe right shoulder pain.  I literally couldnt lift my right arm higher than  midway.  Had an odd feeling it may be a result of the Humira, because it was so bizarre.  Rheumatologist said to keep on it.  Family doc sent me for MRI of C-spine thinking it was coming from my neck.  Well after about 2 weeks the shoulder pain just went away on its own.  So I figured maybe I had just really slept on my arm wrong or something, but was just weird.  So, then around Christmas last year, I noticed that I would become short of breath, just doing nothing.  Finally it got to where it was happening more often and starting to affect my daily activities.  So my Rheumatologist sent me for a Pulmonary function test and chest x-ray.  There was a small abnormality in the PFT and the radiologist read the CXR as normal.  Nothing was done at that time and no explanation given.  I again asked my doctor, could it be the Humira.  Was told no and to keep taking it.  Well about the end of March, my shortness of breath along with fatigue made me decide to take myself off the drug.  I noticed the shortness of breath got somewhat better, but not totally.  So I went on until July.  Still periods of shortness of breath, affecting excercise and daily activities.  July i developed a respiratory infection.  Was treated with 3 types of oral antibiotics.  It kept getting worse and was finally so bad that I had to be hospitalized.  I just couldnt kick it.  I was diagnosed with pneumonia of RUL.  So it took about a month to finally get over the pneumonia.  But I have been progressively been getting worse since.  I was referred to a pulmonologist.  He found the abnormality on my diaphragm. One side higher than the other.  He did a bronchoscopy.  I had upper right lobe atelactasis.  He ordered a sniff test which showed a right paralyzed diaphragm.  He told me to just live with it.  Well, when you cant even carry a basket of laundry through your house, you kinda just dont wanna live with it.  So I was sent to Wake Forest by my family doc.  This doctor there says that my phrenic nerve is most likely damaged from the Humira.  He says typically if the nerve regains use, it will take about 12 months.  I am now about 14 months out.  My symptoms are worse.  Im not able to do much of anything without getting severely out of breath.  He wants me to wait 6 more months to see if it gets better.  He mentioned the plication surgery but said there was not a thoracic surgeon there who was able to perform it.  I had read about Dr Kaufmann in New Jersey.  This doctor was unaware that such a surgery as a nerve transplant even existed.  My family doctor is not happy with this and says she doesnt want me to wait 6 more months.  However, shes just really unsure of who to send me to.  There are lots of great pulmonologists out there, but where are the ones who will be familar with a case like mine? Where are the surgeons who can do the plication? Who are the pulmonologists who are familar with Dr. Kauffmans surgery?  Im really interesting in meeting Dr Kauffman, but I would like another experienced pulmonologists opinion first.  Any information that you guys could give me I would really appreciate. I dont mind to  travel anywhere to get better. Im 35 years old, with a child and honestly, I just need and want to feel better!!! Thanks so much!

I don't understand how drinking a seaweed juice can fix a paralyzed lung. Can you give us more information please? Which side was paralysed? Was it fully paralysed? Do you know what caused it to become paralysed? Do you have any other medical problems, such as thyroid problems?

Without this information, it is impossible for anyone to understand how drinking a juice could fix a problem that is usually caused by a damaged nerve that usually takes 12 months to recover from being damaged.

Jen. Lots of people offering advice. Makes it tough to know who is steering you in the right direction,Whos trying to steer you towards a product that perhaps they even sell. Whats one to do. You have some tough, really tough decisions to make. If you have read throuh this site you will find quite a few postings by myself. I have been to DR.Kaufman and had the surgery. I was not a prime candidate but scored well enough on the tests to be a candidate. I was 57 when I had the proceedure. I could not run more than 50 feet with out being out of breath. I suffered from upper respitory infections 3-4 per year. I used a c-pap to sleep a night. I was unable to tie my own shoes with out gasping for breath. Again I feel like I'm repeating a lot of information that I have written about on these pages. I have not had a single respitory infection since the surgery.thiswill be 3 years in March. I run 5k's I,ve repelled over 17 stories into an abandoned mine shaft. i don't want to go on as it is late. So let me end with this. You and only you can make the ultimate decision. Do this on the facts, Your Dr is right in not wanting you to wait another 6 months. The nerve will die ,if it has not already. I could have been had a chance, according to the mayo clinic, if my nerve had been treatedin the 1st 6 months. I made the call and spoke to Kaufman and took a leap of faith. I not saying you should to but not coming up with a plan is just as bad. Heather is his assistant if you should call. If you have any questionsjust ask. I was patient #13. Many more have been performed since. Good Luck to you.

Thanks Ross. Ive read this entire thread and your story really gives me hope. The 2 pulmonologists I've seen just haven't heard of the procedure. I guess more than anything I would like to know if there are any pulmonologists who do know about it and support it. Would love to go see them and get their opinion. Just to put my mind at ease. I've studied and researched and honestly, this seems like a great option for me in comparison to the plication. I have to do something!!! Can't keep living this way, I'm miserable. So my question for you and everyone else is..... Who else in the medical community, mainly pulmonologists support this new procedure? What medical universtities? I've tried three times to contact Dr Kauffman and left messages. She called back once when I wasn't home and hasnt since. So I can't seem to get up with them, makes me nervous.

What is the name and dosage and where can i get it? Can you get it at a health food store? How much did you drink? How did you know when your lung kicked back? Was there a twitch or something?

I too have asthma and after 3 weeks of being inturbated, my diaphram was paralyzed. I function but the shortened lung capacity has affected my duration in many areas. But it could have been worse.

I now have paralysis of the diaphragm; it's very frustration gasping for breathe. Could my open heart surgery have something to do with it? Some Dr's say No others say don't know because it happened 7 months after my surgery. But then again some Dr's say it can repair itself over time & others say my body will need to adapt to it-Help!

I WOULD BE WILLING TO TRY IT, IS THE NAME liquid limu moui SUPPLEMENT?

I have bilateral paralyzed diaphragms...both paralyzed.  The phrenic nerves are apparently being attacked by some type of antibodies and the nerves are demyleinated....the coating on the nerve has been compromised and sort of shorted out.  Went to Dr. Kaufman and got the phrenic nerve stimulators implanted.  BUT, since the nerve will NOT transport my own brain signaly due to them being erratic and demyleinated....the stimulator pulses wont travel down the nerve to the diaphragm either.  So Im on oxygen 24/7 plus vent to lie down at night to sleep. 

Sent blood work off the a special lab run by Dr. Alan Petronk at Washington Univ. in St. Louis.....a certain antibody was 10 times normal.  Going to do a nerve biopsy and muscle biopsy next and send to Mayo.  To see if the IvIg treatment is useful.   That and plasmophresis are the only 2 things we know of now to treat this....depending on if its a demyleanation issue or an axonal nerve issue.

Some names I have found in reading mounds of research on this are ....Dr. Pestronk at the Univ. of Washington, a Dr. Dyck at Mayo, Dr. Barohn at Kansas University in KC.  and a Dr. Jonathan Katz at an ALS research center in California....not sure if its SF or LA.